Short takes: The post-Covid edition

(Finally getting back up to speed, the whole family "shared" the virus with one another. The actual symptoms weren't bad, but being off for a few days meant some catching up with my day job. It's good to be back!)

KNX sendoff for Ken Charles (photo courtesy of Rob Archer via Facebook)

Signing off: With a brief “This is Your Life” retrospective, featuring some words from his second grade teacher, KNX’s “In Depth” program feted Ken Charles, Audacy’s VP of all-news programming and the station’s PD, who departed the station last Friday. Asked what words of wisdom he’d give to someone considering a career in broadcasting, he said “become a fry cook…people will always need to eat.” Interviewed by “In Depth” hosts Mike Simpson and Charles Feldman, Charles said aspiring journalism graduates “all want to be the next Robin Roberts, but there’s only one Robin Roberts. There’s only a thousand television newsrooms but there’s 11,000 radio station newsrooms – there’s much more opportunity in radio than there is in TV, plus look at some of the greats in TV. They all started in radio.” 

Ken Charles, Mike Simpson, Charles Feldman

Charles was recognized for his work at the all-news outlet, including the creation of “In Depth” and transitioning the station to the FM band. The South Florida native is planning to return to the southeast region of the US to be closer to family. There’s been no formal announcement about who will succeed Charles.

ROQ and roll: Rider is the new “voice” of Audacy’s alternative KROQ. He currently can be heard on Disney Plus promoting “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” Amazon Prime’s new show “The Terminal List,” and Sony Picture’s new movie “Bullet Train” starring Brad Pitt and Sandra Bullock. Rider told All Access, "Level Achieved! Only the best voices in the world have ever had the privilege of gutturally spewing these amazing call letters and I am honored to now have a seat at the KROQ table of voice Gods!”

loopnet.com

Moving About...: It appears things are settling down in the Pinnacle Building, the home of iHeart Media (KLAC, KFI, KEIB, KRRL, KYSR, KIIS, KOST, KBIG). Studios are being moved around, partly to accommodate the move of Premier Networks and FOX Sports Radio to the Burbank facility from their previous headquarters in Sherman Oaks. Ken Chiampou was one of several hosts complaining of on-air glitches, plus gaffes occurring during newscasts.

…and Moving Up: Sisanie (Villaclara), co-host of iHeart’s “On-Air with Ryan Seacrest” heard locally on KIIS-FM, has added Music Director to her duties at the CHR outlet. A native of Orange County, Sisanie joined KIIS-FM in 2007 as midday host. She was then nationally syndicated by iHeart, including KHTS-San Diego. Sisanie joined Seacrest in 2015. She also hosts a podcast “Twinning with Sisanie.”

What’s a “Mandy?”: 710 / ESPN (KSPN) held their first annual “Mandy Awards” show, held at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello a couple of Fridays ago. Named in honor of station pd Amanda Brown, the program included dinner and a live “Family Feud” with the 710 / ESPN hosts.

Scott Kaplan, John Ireland, Steve Mason

Scott Kaplan was named Host of the Year, while (Steve) Mason & (John) Ireland were named Show of the Year.

Jess Morales Rocketto, Stephanie Valencia

Noticias de Radio: Spanish news / talk KTNQ has been sold to Latino Media Network, one of 18 stations nationally the new company has acquired. Interviewed by Radio Ink, Stephanie Valencia, the co-founder of the new company explained their goals: “There’s an ocean of information that Latinos are navigating in the world today and they are looking for trusted voices, messengers and platforms to make sense of the world.” Valencia said the network purchased the stations because “radio is an important part of that, which is why we acquired 18 radio stations but is beyond radio.” The company will use various digital platforms to complement their broadcasting efforts. The network’s two founders have significant Democratic party roots. Valencia is a former Obama White House staffer while co-founder Morales Rocketto was a Hillary Clinton campaign aide Jess Morales Rocketto.

The new network denies they will affect their stations’ editorial content, but that hasn’t stopped some strong objections and concerns. Miami’s Radio Mambi (WAQI) is vocally supportive of former President Donald Trump and intensely anti-Castro. “(The new owners) have their liberal, progressive agenda,” said popular Radio Mambi host Ninoska Pérez Castellón. “You can be sure that my principles and dignity don’t have a price and aren’t for sale.” Locally, KTNQ attracted national criticism when conservative host Pablo Kleinman was fired in January, 2021.

Pablo Kleinman

KTNQ’s former owners, TelevisaUnivision, continue to own and operate K-LOVE 107.5 (KLVE), LA 101.9 (KSCA), and Recuerdo 103.9 / 98.3 (KRCD /KRCV).

We were privileged to interview Mark Austin Thomas, veteran of several L.A. stations who recently retired from the KNX overnight shift. His story is forthcoming soon, taking a look at his long career and what’s next for himself and his thoughts on what’s next for the local dial. Steve Mason, working with stand-up comedian Sue Kolinsky, continues his “Culture Pop” podcast, we’ll learn about one of his latest ventures covering the entertainment world and more in a future column.

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